Report Lily Leaf Beetles to MSU

lily leaf beetle (photo from MSU)

from an article at Click on Detroit

The lily leaf beetle, also called scarlet leaf beetle, was introduced into North America around 1940. By 1992 it had spread across New England, and was confirmed in Michigan in 2016.

It attacks plants in the Lilium and Frittilaria families which include oriental lilies, frittilaria, hosta and a few other plants in the Lily family including Solomon's Seal and possibly Swamp Milkweed. However, day lilies are not at risk. The beetle larvae can completely devastate a plant.

Adults burrow into the soil near their host plants and wait until the next year to emerge and lay eggs.

There is now a significant population in southeast Michigan. Michigan State University Extension is seeking reports of sightings to determine where the insects have spread.

MSU is looking into a biological control program used by the University of Rhode Island that introduces a parasitic insect that targets the larvae of lily leaf beetles.

Any sightings of this insect should be reported, preferably with pictures of plant damage to MSU. See link below. Individual beetles can be killed by dropping into soapy water.



Report Lily Leaf Beetle to the Midwest Invasive Species Network


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